Answer :
Final answer:
The benthic zone of the ocean includes the seafloor, its sediments, and rock layers. It extends from the shoreline to the deepest areas of the ocean. Other ocean zones like mesopelagic, bathypelagic, and abyssopelagic refer to different water columns, not the seafloor.
Explanation:
Understanding Ocean Zones
The correct answer to the question about which zone of the ocean includes the seafloor, its sediments, and rock layers is the benthic zone. This zone extends along the ocean bottom from the coastline to the deepest parts of the ocean, covering both continental shelves and the deeper ocean floor environments.
Here’s a brief overview of the key ocean zones to provide context:
- The mesopelagic zone is located from about 200m to 1000m deep and is characterized by limited light penetration.
- The bathypelagic zone, ranging from 1000m to 4000m, includes areas with complete darkness and is home to different marine organisms adapted to these conditions.
- The abyssopelagic zone extends from about 4000m to 6000m deep, comprising most of the abyssal plains.
In contrast, the benthic zone encompasses the seafloor and encompasses ecosystems that rely on the sediment and rock layers found there. The entire benthic environment can include various depths, from shallow waters where organisms interact closely with the shoreline to deeper trenches.
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